STARLIT DESTINY

By

Annalee Blysse

© copyright August 2005, Annalee Blysse

Cover art by Eliza Black, © copyright August 2005

ISBN 1-58608-637-5

New Concepts Publishing

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Dedication:

To Grandma, for your encouragement.

Prologue

Planet Lyask

A sudden splash and a mouthful of salty water shocked her into awareness. One moment she was warm and cozy. The next moment she was fighting her way to the surface of a rain-blackened sea. Dena had no time to worry about whether or not she was dreaming. It was all she could do to stay afloat.

She turned from the wind, only to find herself tumbling helplessly over the white-capped crest of a gigantic wave. The waters tugged at her, pushed at her. Everywhere she looked, monstrous waves surrounded her.

Raindrops, driven by a fierce wind, pelted her face.

The pain was real; her body ached.

A faint, creaking sound reached across the waves. Dena squinted into the darkness. Shadowy masses floundered in the frightening waters. She heard sailors shout as they fought against the elements, fought to release the tormented masts from straining sails.

Lyask’s fleet.... Her father!

Struggling toward the sailing ships, Dena called out in desperation. “Papa! Papa!”

“Dena, no!” Her father’s voice reverberated across her mind, louder than the raging storm. “No! You have to stop. Go back.”

Blinding flashes of lightning cleaved a ship in two. Ominous thunder rumbled across the sky. Dena watched in horror as an enormous wave slammed into the sailing vessel, tearing it asunder.

The force of the wave knocked her underwater.

She clawed her way to the surface, breaking free from the sea’s cold grip to find the night was silent. The storm disappeared as quickly as it had started.

“Papa?” she called out, her voice quivering, her body shivering. “Where are you?”

Then flashes of light, stark against the black sky, illuminated the night.

Images of blood, smells of seared flesh, sounds of pain, and the feeling of terror overcame her mind. The onslaught on her senses overwhelmed her as the storm brought many sailors’ lives to an abrupt end. The thunder drowned her cries.

Bits and chunks of wood scratched at her limbs as another explosion forced her below the waves. A sailor’s lifeless body brushed against her. Dena screamed in terror, breathing in cold water. Incredible pain shot through her chest.

Choking on water, she reached toward the distant streaks of light that illuminated the surface. As she broke free, that was when she saw them....

Above her two ships sailed on the air. Dena had never seen anything like them. But she knew that between them, they held the power of the storm.

They were the lightning.

They were the thunder.

“Pl-please,” she pleaded with all her being. Her voice was so hoarse she could hardly speak. “Please. I need you. Help me.”

She swam harder against the fury. Gasping desperately for air, fighting the pain in her lungs, she screamed over and over again, “Papa! Papa!”

There was no answer.

The only sound was her own ragged breathing.

The ships that sailed on air, every ship in the fleet, everything that had once been living was gone. In the darkness she could feel around her the flotsam and jetsam of destruction. She had never felt so alone.

Dark clouds pounded rain against her face.

Lyask was crying.

* * * *

Serenadya Lyksandr pulled her daughter close. Dena’s pliant body curled into her side. Her daughter’s damp eyelashes fluttered against her skin. “Hush now,” Serenadya whispered, cooing soothing sounds meant to comfort.

“P-papa’s gone. They, they ... k-killed him,” Dena said, her voice a small whimpering sound.

Serenadya pushed stray locks of damp hair from her daughter’s brow. Dena was trying so hard to be brave, yet the poor girl was still locked in the embrace of a night terror.

“Mama!” Jilan padded into the room, looking as terrified as Dena. “Why is Dena crying?”

“It was only a dream,” she said. Serenadya held her arms open and Jilan quickly cuddled against her other side.

“No!” Dena straightened up, her eyes wide. “I wasn’t sleeping, Mama! It was real.”

“Oh, sweet one. There now,” Serenadya murmured in her daughter’s ear, pulling Dena close again. “A night terror will seem that way. But there is nothing to be afraid of. They’ll bring him home again.”

The uncontrollable sobs were turning slowly into tremors. Dena hiccoughed. “Kee ... Kivlaki Maeteaki?”

“Yes, sweet. The Kivlaki Maeteaki will bring your Papa home safely.”

“But,” Dena whispered, her tiny voice filled with horror. “They killed him. It was them....”

Jilan started crying.

Serenadya held both of her girls tight. “No, my sweet ones. Never. Kivlaki Maeteaki protect us. There is nothing to be frightened about.”

“But I saw them,” Dena said. “There were ships that flew down from the stars. They killed him. They killed all of them.”

A howling gust of wind brought waves of energy crashing against the keep’s walls. Serenadya focused her mind on the storm outside and pleaded with it to go away. But the winds swept even more furiously from the sea.

She grasped the pendant hanging between her breasts. Normally her alykzhel strengthened her connection with Zsaylla, the Awareness that surrounded Lyask. But the teardrop jewel felt cold, unresponsive to her touch.

Serenadya was helpless against the storm’s fury. The wind continued to buffet Lyksandr Keep. The huge stone fortress shook to its foundation.

Just as the stone walls behind her absorbed the force of the wind, Serenadya suddenly realized that Dena was engulfed by Zsaylla’s energy. Her daughter’s anguish was in tune with the storm that raged outside.

Lyask was responding to Dena? She’d never heard of a child so young being able to connect with Zsaylla.

Lyask waged a battle, against what she knew not. But Dena was part of it. Her daughter’s dream--no, she corrected herself--her daughter’s vision was linked with the storm.

Wistfully, Serenadya began to hum an ivarune that uncounted generations of parents relied on to comfort their children on dark, dreary evenings. It was the song of the mythical Kivlaki Maeteaki, those that sailed down from the stars, bringing lost souls home to Lyask.

She blinked back tears as she prayed that Nicholai would return with the dawn. The Kivlaki Maeteaki would bring a second chance.

When Serenadya began to sing the age-old ivarune, it was as much for herself as for her daughters.

Chapter One

Fourteen Years Later

Standing on the edge of a promontory, Dena Lyksandr breathed deeply. Her granduncle stood next to her. She followed his gaze to the sea below. Moon-kissed waves lapped against the rocks at the cliff’s base. A faint, moisture-laden updraft carried the tangy taste of the sea. Focusing on the cool air filling her lungs and the easy flow of the waves, she urged her mind to relax.

Above her, the Twin Sisters were halfway across the evening sky. Both moons were brilliant against the star-filled curtain of night. Their pastel blue-white light made her sense of urgency palpable.

It was difficult to ground herself. The disturbing vision she’d had the night before weighed heavily on her mind. Yet, considering the importance of her participation in this evening’s gathering, she needed to be calm.

It was the role of the Xama to accept and interpret prophetic visions for the people of Lyask. That meant her. Especially her. The Lyksandr Clan ruled all Lyask. Now that she had come into her majority, as the Lyksandr it was her obligation to allow the Xama to interpret such visions and guide her. As her people’s leader, she was obligated to avoid using her gifts.

But she’d been unable to follow those mandates. Considering the ghastly images that had broken into her dreams the night before, her only alternative had been to connect with Zsaylla and participate in the lucid dream she’d been given.

Why had Zsaylla shared the vision of a war-torn Lyask with her? And how could she convince the Xama elders of what she’d foreseen? It had been difficult enough to convince her own granduncle. But at least he’d realized the wisdom in allowing her to share her vision with rest of his order tonight.

“Are you ready?” Elder Lyksandr’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned to her granduncle and nodded.

Without another word he disappeared over the ledge, his face reappearing when she didn’t immediately follow. She gazed over the edge, suspiciously eyeing the nearly imperceptible trail down the cliff face. If her granduncle could climb up and down this cliff, she could too.

Dena scrambled over the edge behind him.

Since the off-worlders had invaded her world, the location of the zayllento that helped the Xama connect with Zsaylla had been guarded. Then again, the sacred caverns had always been off limits. Most Lyaskans had extra-sensory abilities that allowed them to sense the energies that surrounded Lyask. But only the strongest of her people could control their gifts. Those who could were immediately recruited into the Xama so they could be trained to use their gifts safely. And only those who reached the status of Xama Elder were allowed to use the zayllento to amplify their extra-sensory abilities.

The ability to sense and connect with Zsaylla came naturally for Dena--as natural as breathing. After the off-world invasion, when she’d taught herself to connect and listen to the gatherings without the aide of zayllento, she’d been old enough to understand using her gift to eavesdrop was by no means acceptable. She’d also been old enough to realize how unique her abilities were. There were few Xama elders who could communicate telepathically without using a zayllento.

If not for that off-world invasion, if her father hadn’t died, her abilities would have been encouraged. She would have followed in her mother’s footsteps and trained as an apprentice with the Xama.

But life hadn’t turned out that way. Jilan could not become the Lyksandr. The laws of Lyask passed the title to the firstborn child of the sovereign. Her father could have made certain exceptions, considering she and Jilan were twins. Birth order was a moot point when she was hardly an hour older. But they’d been so young when their father died. At the time, no one had seen reason to make an exception.

Dena realized that she was not the first sovereign to develop her extra senses, or there would be no need for laws protecting the Xama from interference. She had always justified her actions knowing that she was the first sovereign faced with such a dilemma. There was no precedent.

Dena sighed. The Xama elders would not be pleased to realize she’d accepted another vision. Her presence tonight would not be welcome. Her granduncle was risking much in allowing her to join the meeting.

“It’s best that you remain silent at first,” he said as they slipped through a narrow crack in the cliff face and into a small chamber. He lit a lantern and held it before him, revealing a long narrow passage. “I will announce your presence later.”

As they entered the heart of the zayllento, the jeweled cavern reflected the lantern’s glow in a blaze of colors. Colorful light danced through the cavern, and through her mind. The concentration of the energy flowed stronger than she’d ever experienced. That must be because all of the elders across Lyask were beginning to use the energy to connect with each other.

Shock lit her granduncle’s face as she easily focused and joined the gathering, weaving her thoughts into the web of consciousness. He rolled his eyes slightly, chiding her silently. He’d always suspected that she’d learned to accept Zsaylla’s energy. She’d just confirmed it.

After the meeting was called to order, Elder Debgheshell, from Lyask’s largest clan, was the first to speak. “Early this morning six fishermen were captured. One man escaped and reported that the men were taken off Lyask.”

The order began a heated debate about the latest development’s possible meaning. More and more, reports such as these were coming to light. There were plenty of theories about why the Sarza Command captured her people. But no one who’d left Lyask had ever returned to corroborate any theory in particular.

Elder Debgheshell dominated the conversation again, his voice filled with anger. “Since the invaders have arrived, I’ve watched the slow destruction of our lands, our homes. The Kivlaki Maeteaki were once revered. But the people of Debgheshell and all Lyaskans have been subjugated by those who came from the stars. Now, rather then the comfort of our legends, our children call the invaders ‘star pirates,’ and run in fear. The off-worlders are stealing our very souls.

“We can debate this all evening. But that will not change the fact that the star pirates are capturing my clansmen and torturing them. We have to stop them, or there won’t be anything left.”

Debgheshell was located far into the southern hemisphere. Dena had never met Elder Debgheshell, yet she had come to respect him greatly. She thought that he was correct in his assumptions. She also believed the fate of those captured wasn’t a pleasant one.

“You must warn your leader that reacting too soon will raise suspicion. We must stay unified,” the lead insisted, her telepathic voice much harsher. A woman with mixed ancestry and no formal clan affiliation, it was the lead’s job to speak for all of Lyask. Dena believed the lead was also a strong woman and just and well respected. But she’d come to power during trying times. The lead was right in reminding the order that Lyask needed to be unified. However, the fact that the largest clan held such a different view proved there was reason to worry.

“The Sarza Command has set up their base on our land. Our people have the most to lose,” Elder Debgheshell said. “It is becoming more difficult to console them. Our clansmen are eager to fight back.”

It brought Dena no comfort that the people of Debgheshell were calling for retribution. That fact made her vision all the more disturbing. Half of Lyask’s population was of the Clan Debgheshell.

“All of Lyask is under siege. We must hold the people together, and we must choose our steps wisely,” the lead said.

“The Debgheshell does not need more of the same rhetoric,” Elder Debgheshell said. “It is time to involve the people of Lyask.”

“No, not yet,” the lead continued. “That is far too risky.”

A frown creased Dena’s brow. She’d expected that response from the lead. The Xama had always had vanity as a fault. The order took too much pride in their special abilities. Unwilling as they were to work with the people, it was only the Xama who had the knowledge that would someday be used against the star pirates that held her people captive.

A sharp look from her granduncle reminded her to stay silent.

“It is far too risky to continue to ignore the people,” Elder Debgheshell said so forcibly that Dena could almost envision his face.

Dena sighed. If the people of Debgheshell wanted action, that day was coming soon. It was time to teach the people of Lyask the knowledge they needed to fight against the star pirates. Otherwise, fighting would lead to their destruction.

“No, not yet,” the lead repeated. “We must be certain the new off-worlders aren’t setting a trap.”

Elder Debgheshell did not contain his anger. “And what of the Lyksandr? She must be informed that we have an off-world contact!”

“The Lyksandr will not be consulted. She will remain uninvolved.”

Dena’s throat tightened. Her vision had revealed their planned contact. They had arranged for weapons to be brought to Lyask. But if they didn’t want her involved, it would be even harder to convince them the ramifications of their actions would be catastrophic for Lyask.

She looked to her granduncle for guidance, but he remained focused on the meeting. She worried that he’d changed his mind about introducing her. There was so much he’d refused to discuss with her. Now she could see why.

“Elder Lyksandr will be our contact.” The lead stated, calling a halt to the discussion. “As of yet, you’ve had no comments this evening. What is your opinion, Elder Lyksandr?”

“Events have fallen into place that convinced me Elder Debgheshell is correct,” her granduncle said. “In fact, I have involved Dena’et Lyksandr.”

A shiver ran up Dena’s spine as restlessness echoed through Zsaylla.

“You have acted without consulting the order?”

“Dena came to me for advice about a lucid dream she believed became a vision. I immediately realized that Zsaylla spoke directly to her, as happened the night her father was killed. The subject of her vision necessitated immediate action. The only course I saw open was to bring her with me tonight.”

Dena felt a ripple of confusion as individual thoughts grew into a collective maelstrom of shock and hostility that vibrated across Lyask. She considered how unbounded their anger would be if her granduncle was completely honest and revealed she had joined them on her own, unaided. But he would wait until he’d questioned her about how she’d taught herself the skills, that he’d made clear to her. And because she couldn’t lie to him she would finally reveal just how involved she was, that she watched the star pirates, and had used her gift to learn to speak and read their language.

Dena glanced at her granduncle, and he nodded his approval. She focused her thoughts, sending them out into the iridescent swirling energy, and allowed Zsaylla to envelop her completely. “I asked for this audience.”

The effect of feeling her own voice pass through her strengthened her resolve. This encounter was necessary and avoiding it was impossible.

“Dena’et Lyksandr, by accepting a vision, you were violating sacred law,” the lead said, her voice an authoritative rumble through Zsaylla. “As sovereign of Lyask, you should have stopped communicating with Zsaylla. If you were aware of the events unfolding in your dream, you could have forced yourself to wake up.”

“The Xama is the Lyksandr’s advisory group. That is law as well. Yet you were planning on acting without my input.” There was no denying the fury her statement caused, true as it was.

“Our mission is first and foremost to protect Lyask. We are within our right.”

“I put before you that the laws must change,” Dena said, knowing full well the Xama prided themselves on tradition, hoping she wouldn’t make enemies. “We are living in times where my gifts can only aid our people. I did not seek the vision last night. It was given to me, and I accepted it. I was not given clear guidance as to why I was chosen. Yet I was.”

A woman from a clan near Debgheshell responded. “The structure of Lyask’s governing powers has stood the test of time. We have long suspected you are very gifted. But we need a sovereign that will respect the laws that bind Lyask.”

“I am the direct descendant of thirteen generations of sovereign. For centurns my clan has been the law of Lyask. I respect their precedents. But my ancestors did not have to contend with the off-world beasts.” Dena paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. Her position demanded she rely on the Xama to interpret what she saw. That was the way it had always been. “Circumstances guided my actions, not disrespect. I asked to join you tonight to share what I have seen. To ask your interpretation before making any decisions that will affect us all.”

Her granduncle spoke. “I take full responsibility for bringing Dena tonight. I would not have invited her if I did not believe she should be heard by everyone. I ask that you hold off your judgment and listen.”

Again there was a flurry of accusations, but the lead finally called order. “We will listen.”

Dena started from the beginning, and it didn’t take long before she was aware that no one else had seen the same thing. “After our people took up arms, in retaliation the Sarza Command used a flash of energy that was stronger than anything Lyask has seen since the Ancient Ones. I believe that they have, or soon will, discover a way to tap into Zsaylla.”

“Touching as your dream may have been, you have not received the training necessary to adequately interpret your vision.”

“My vision was clear. There was no symbolism. I was shown exactly what will happen,” Dena said, forcing her voice into an even tone. “If we make this contact, events will fall into place that will cause a great swath of destruction.” She paused, gathering her resolve. “When the Ancient Ones tried to use Lyask’s energy for weaponry , they destroyed themselves. If we use these weapons against the Sarza Command, we will call forth the same power. The explosion I saw left nothing behind.”

A frenzied response spread through the Xama.

“Please,” Dena broke in, “You must stop this contact. Our people are not ready for war with the off-worlders. We have to delay until we know how to prevent what I saw from happening.”

The lead called a halt to the commotion. “You were not shown how to stop the destruction?”

“No. Only that the weapons will instigate it.”

“We will take what you’ve said under advisement. But now we must ask that you disengage and leave this meeting.”

A resonance passed through Dena’s mind. The Xama had foreseen that she was meant to be the contact. She was destined to be the ambassador for Lyask. “How dare you alter my life’s path! I was meant to stop this contact. That is the reason for my vision.”

“Alyk’aa! It is so! The law demands that you will obey.”

“It must be me that makes this contact. You know that! Maybe I can stop what I’ve seen from--”

“Dena,” the lead’s voice was grave. “If you participate, it will mean that you won’t remain our Lyksandr. If you make this contact, you will be taken from us, never to return. We need you now more than ever. We can’t allow them to....”

Her eyes caught her granduncle’s. He nodded.

She realized now why he’d initially been so shocked when she’d approached him. He was more worried about her than laws and regulations. So too was the rest of the Xama.

“I urge you to reconsider. I am dispensable. If what I’ve seen comes to pass, it won’t matter that I am no longer your leader.”